Photo: Michael Jamin / ACO
Toyota Gazoo Racing set the three fastest times at the Test Day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in two weeks time.
Kamui Kobayashi, in the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050-Hybrid he shares with Mike Conway and Stéphane Sarazin, set a 3:18.132 in the afternoon session. Sébasten Buemi was second quickest in the #9 Toyota after he set 3:19.290, again in the afternoon. The #9 Toyota was third quickest after Jose Maria Lopez, back in the car after having recovered from the impact he sustained at Silverstone in the first round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, set a 3:21.455.
With only two manufacturers competing in the premier class in 2017, Porsche LMP team set its fastest time with the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid after Earl Bamber lapped the Circuit de la Sarthe in 3:21.512.
In the LMP2 class, competing this year for the first time under the new regulations with the Gibson engine, the quickest time of the day was set by the #35 Signatech Alpine Matmut Alpine A470, driven by Nelson Pantiatici, Pierre Ragues and André Negrao, in which Pantiatici set a 3:28.844.
Second quickest in the LMP2 class was the #24 CEFC MANOR TRS TEAM CHINA ORECA 07 in which Jean-eric verge set a 3:28.844 in the car he shares with Tor Graves and Jonathan Hirschi.
Third quickest was the 2014 class-winners Jackie Chan DC Racing, run by Jota Sport, when its #37 ORECA 07 driven by Alex Brundle lapped in 3:29.104.
The additional power that the LMP2 class is enjoying in the 2017 was reflected in lap times which were nearly eight seconds quicker than at the Test Day 2016.
In LM GTE Pro Corvette Racing topped the time-sheets in both the morning and afternoon sessions. The quickest time of the day was set by Olivier Gavin in the #64 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R when he lapped in 3:54.701 in the afternoon session.
Porsche GT Team were second and third quickest with the #91 Porsche 911 RSR lapping in 3:54.996 in the hands of Frédéric Makowiecki and the #92, driven by Kevin Estre just three-thousandths of a second slower at 3:54.999.
LMGTE Am honours went to the #98 Aston Martin Racing Vantage in the hands of Pedro Lamy who lapped in 3:38.250. Second quickest on his return to the Circuit de la Sarthe was Fernando Rees in the #50 Labre Competition Chevrolet Corvette C7.R in which he set set a 3:58.302.
Race Week for the 2017 running of the 24 Hours of Le mans begins with scrutineering in the Town Centre on Sunday June 11, followed by the first track outing for the cars on Wednesday June 14 at 16:00 for Free Practice 1.
